The Foundlings: Book One of the Urban Fantasy Paranormal Vampire Series, The Foundlings

by R. M. Garcia

  “Oh no. I’m the only person that gets to bite my fiancé, so I’m your meal ticket,” Cecilia said.

  “Wait, it’s too dangerous,” Misha said.

  “Too dangerous for me and not you, remember who used to beat up the neighborhood bullies,” Cecilia said. “Whenever you’re ready, Abbie.”

  “Not so cool now, huh?” Donnie said to Misha. “Should’ve kept your mouth shut.”

  “Just be careful,” Misha said, worried.

  “I trust Dodo,” Cecilia said. Abbie moved over to Cecilia and bared her fangs.

  “Remember you have to be willing, or it will hurt. Trust me, I know first hand,” Abbie said. “Neck or wrist?”

  “Neck, let’s get this over before I lose my nerve,” Cecilia said. Abbie leaned down and gently inserted her fangs into Cecilia’s neck and began to drink. Cecilia was tense at first but then relaxed when there was no pain.

  “Doesn’t hurt at all,” Cecilia said. “My whole neck is numb. This feels so bizarre.” After several minutes, Abbie pulled away and retracted her fangs. Her eyes rolled back into her head, and she shuddered for a moment.

  “Abbie?” Donnie asked cautiously.

  “I’m good, thanks CeeCee,” Abbie said as she backed away from Cecilia. Fresh blood was a rush, and secretly she wanted more.

  “Wow! Not even a mark,” Cecilia said as she inspected her neck in a mirror.

  “Useful side effect of a willing donor,” Abbie said.

  “OK now that very creepy experience is over, let’s plan what your next move will be.” The four of them sat around the table and tossed out ideas into the night.

  CHAPTER 22

  Oh Canada

  “SO IT’S SETTLED. We’re heading into Canada?” Abbie asked.

  “Looks to be the best place to go for right now,” Donnie replied. “It’s a big country and very north of Florida.”

  “I still say you should take us with you. We can keep you fed,” Cecilia said.

  “I am willing to go with you too,” Misha added.

  “Look, guys, I know you mean well, but you have done enough. Besides if they find us, you won’t last very long.” Donnie forced away an image in his head of CeeCee and Misha dead at the feet of a pack of vampires.

  “Donnie is right. You should see the Karmann Ghia. It’s totaled, and the beach house fared no better,” Abbie said.

  “I will set up a separate account in both your names and transfer money into it,” Donnie said. “My attorney will handle the property transfer.”

  “I can’t believe this is good-bye, Dodo,” Cecilia said, hugging Donnie firmly and began to cry. Abbie wished in her heart that she could tell her parents but knew it would crush them and place them in danger. Donnie promised her that one day they would make sure they knew the truth but not before it was safe.

  “It’s not forever. I’m sure of it. I will see you both again,” Donnie said, trying to console Cecilia.

  “You better come back, and it better be before I’m old and on my deathbed,” Cecilia said as she wiped her tears from her face.

  “I promise,” Donnie said, smiling.

  “I’m going to miss you, man,” Misha said to Donnie.

  “Same here, but once you are big and famous, I can watch you on the big screen.” In the morning, Abbie fell asleep, but Donnie was able to resist the effects of the daysleep and made all the necessary arrangements with his lawyers. The house would be transferred into the guardianship of Misha and Cecilia. He established a trust in their name with a million dollars in it. It would pay them $50,000 a year for the next twenty years. The house was paid in full, and all Misha and Cecilia would have to worry about would be utilities, taxes, and maintenance. Donnie expected that the house should be fine for the next twenty years. He also gave Misha a blank check to cover the damages to the beach house. He would also take care of hauling the Karmann Ghia to a junkyard. Once he felt everything was prepared, he slipped into bed with Abbie and went to sleep.

  Donnie did not have an easy rest. He had a vivid dream, more vivid and real than any dream he had ever experienced. He found himself drifting high over the clouds. He floated aimlessly for a while until he spotted a figure approaching him. As it floated closer, he could make out the man that was hovering before him.

  “Papi,” Donnie said in disbelief.

  “Si, my son, it is I,” Ernesto said.

  “Is this a dream?” he asked.

  “Yes, it is, or maybe it’s a vision,” Ernesto answered. Donnie reached for the man before him and hugged him. He held onto him as tightly as he could.

  “I missed you, Dad.”

  “I missed you too, mi hijo, but I cannot stay long. I’m here to tell you something.”

  “I’m listening, but don’t expect me to let go,” Donnie said, still clinging to his father.

  “And he will deliver their kings into thy hand, and thou shalt make their name to perish from under heaven: there shall no man be able to stand before thee, until thou have destroyed them,” Ernesto said and pushed his son away. Donnie began to fall down from the clouds.

  “Dad, wait, what does that mean?” Donnie fell faster and faster.

  “Adios, my son, I love you!” Ernesto yelled.

  “I love you, Dad!” Donnie said as he woke from his sleep and sat up in the bed. Abbie never stirred and continued to sleep. He looked at the clock, and sunset was still a few hours away. He was wide awake, and there was no going back to bed now. Donnie got up and began packing and plotting their course on the Internet and found the perfect place to rest for the night. He opened the safe and stuffed $500,000 in a large duffel bag. He was not keen on carrying this amount of money around, but it was better than using his ATM card and leaving a digital trace. After a while Abbie finally woke up, and they quickly packed the Thing and began driving northwest. The drive went well. They could have moved much faster on foot, but the intent was not to draw attention and to travel at night. They left just after 6:00 p.m. and arrived in Niagara Falls close to 3:00 a.m. and crossed over into the Canada side.

  “The sun will be up soon. We should look for a place to stay,” Abbie suggested.

  “It’s already taken care of,” Donnie said. “We’re staying at The Dewalt Resort.”

  “What happened to keeping a low profile?” she asked.

  “It’s pretty secluded, and they’ll have everything ready for us.” Donnie closed his eyes momentarily, his tongue had slipped.

  “What will be ready?” Abbie asked slowly, she knew that tone, he was planning something.

  “I guess in our situation I can’t really surprise you like I’d hoped.”

  “What are you planning?” Abbie asked as she turned in her seat and looked excitedly at Donnie.

  “Who knows when we will have another normal day, so I figured I’d make an honest woman out of you,” Donnie said, smiling.

  “We’re getting married in Niagara Falls?” Abbie eyes went wide open. Was he actually proposing again?

  “If you will have me,” he replied.

  “Of course, I will!” Abbie leaned over and hugged him and gave him a peck on the cheek. “But can we pull it off?”

  “Yeah, we’re doing this,” he responded with a coy little smile. Abbie screamed in excitement. Somehow in the darkest of her days, Donnie always found a way to make her heart sing. They arrived at the resort, and Abbie couldn’t be happier. Donnie had indeed made all the arrangements. They were met by a bellhop, who took their bags to the honeymoon suite. The wedding officiate was also waiting. They proceeded to the rear grounds of the resort and headed to a gazebo. The white gazebo was illuminated by hundreds of tiny lights; they served as the only light source. They sparkled like stars in the night sky. Several members of the resort staff served as witnesses. It was a simple ceremony, non denominational, and performed beautifully by the official. Her words were poetic and sincere. Abbie thought that it couldn’t have been anymore perfect. They were married, and Mr. and Mrs. Guerrero retired to the ho
neymoon suite and did not emerge until the next evening.

  When they woke, Abbie was again craving blood, but oddly Donnie was still not.

  “This just isn’t fair,” Abbie said, frowning. “Why aren’t you hungry?”

  “I’m not sure, but I’m not,” Donnie answered. “But let’s find someone for you. Does the manual have any tips on getting blood?”

  “No, it doesn’t. So I am just as clueless as you when it comes to getting blood,” she replied. “All my feedings, except for a few animals, were with willing donors.”

  “So let’s think this through. We can’t just grab someone off the street. We need to be smarter than that.”

  “Maybe somewhere crowded like a club. I bite while you hold them quiet,” she suggested.

  “That could work, but I think we should knock them out first,” Donnie suggested. “No chance of them screaming.”

  “Yeah, but we have to be careful not to hit them too hard. We are much stronger now. How much force do we use?”

  “So what about using a prostitute?” Donnie said. “She would come willingly.”

  “We need to get a hotel room. I think,” Abbie said. “Bringing a hooker to the resort might draw attention, especially since we are newlyweds.”

  “Man, how do vampires do this and not get caught?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Think about it. They’ve been around all this time, and I can’t remember hearing about anyone being attacked and left with bite marks,” Donnie said. “We are missing something important.”

  “You may be right, but I don’t have the answers.”

  “OK, let’s try the club idea. We might get lucky and run into someone who is falling down drunk. Should be easy pickings then.”

  “Not like we have much of a choice,” said Abbie. “I seem to be able to handle feeding once every other night.” Once they had made their decision, Donnie and Abbie got dressed and headed to the front desk to ask directions to a nightclub. The same clerk from the night before was again on duty. His name tag read Jacques. He was a portly fellow with a thick black beard. He reminded Donnie of a lumberjack.

  “So, Jacques, can you direct us to a nightclub where we can dance, lots of people?” Donnie asked. Abbie jabbed him softly in the ribs. He looked at her, and she shook her head at him.

  “I can direct you to a club, or I can arrange for some refreshments to come to you, eh,” Jacques said softly. “Does five hundred American sound fair?” Donnie looked at him quizzically.

  “You said refreshments for five hundred dollars?” Donnie was trying to get his meaning.

  “Yeah, refreshments you know, hemo, eh?” Jacques asked quietly.

  “I’m sorry, but we aren’t sure what you mean,” Abbie said.

  “Seriously eh, aren’t both of you Pires?” Jacques asked. Donnie and Abbie eyes went wide. Donnie began to wonder was Pire short for vampire?

  “Well, uhm,” Donnie said.

  “Hey, don’t worry. This is a Pire friendly resort,” Jacques said.

  “What exactly does that mean?” Donnie asked.

  “You really don’t know what that means? Wow, eh,” Jacques said. “It means that we’re agreeable to housing your kind.”

  “What do you mean by our kind?” Abbie asked.

  Jacques looked at them both in amusement and shook his head. He leaned over the desk closer to the pair and whispered, “Vampires, eh.”

  “Oh,” Donnie said.

  “Unreal,” Abbie followed. “I never thought such a place existed.”

  “OK, now you are just joking with me, right? You had to know,” Jacques said. “All the signs are there.”

  “What signs?” Donnie asked.

  “We boast sun-shaded rooms, special nocturnal services, and accept large amounts of cash, guaranteed privacy and safety,” Jacques said. “Pretty much a giveaway, eh.” Donnie thought back to when he was booking the room online. Those features were exactly what drew him to select this resort to stay at. It made perfect sense now.

  “Yeah, we were just messing with you. I just wanted to see how many times I could get you to say, eh,” Donnie said.

  “Very funny,” Jacques said. “So do you want a drink or not?” Donnie looked at Abbie, and she nodded.

  “Yes, we would like a drink,” Donnie replied.

  “OK, any preferences?” Jacques asked.

  “Surprise us,” Abbie replied.

  “OK, I will send someone shortly to your room,” Jacques declared. “Please pay them after you are satisfied, eh.”

  “Will do,” Donnie said and grabbed Abbie’s hand, and they went back to their suite. Once they closed the door, Donnie began pacing.

  “What’s wrong, Donnie? We don’t have to hunt now,” Abbie said.

  “I just figured it out,” Donnie said.

  “Figured out what?” Abbie asked.

  “It’s a whole infrastructure, a sub-society hidden in plain sight. That’s why you don’t hear about vampire murders. They don’t have to kill anymore,” Donnie said.

  “You know, at the resort in Florida, it was pretty much the same. I had blood readily available, and no one was freaked out about giving blood,” Abbie said. “Even on the train ride up, we had donors available.”

  “We just need to figure out the way to find places like this. I didn’t think anything was amiss by this place, but I picked it for its amenities.” Abbie suddenly made a realization.

  “I think we should leave as soon as we can,” she said. “We’re bound to run into other vampires in a place like this.”

  “I think you’re right, but at least now, we have an idea what to look for.” There was a knock on the door. Donnie walked over to the door and looked through the peephole.

  “Hemoglobin,” an effeminate voice said from the other side. Donnie opened the door to discover two males and a woman at his door.

  “May we enter?” said the first male. He was an over obviously gay black man and without waiting for a response strolled into the room with a practiced flare of flamboyance. He was followed in by a shapely woman who caressed Donnie’s face as she entered the room; she had a Mediterranean look to her. The last was a large black man; he had the look of pure business.

  “I am Cedrid, five hundred dollars, please,” he said to Donnie. Donnie pulled out a fold of cash and handed the man five hundred dollars.

  “This is Sampson and Delilah,” Cedrid said. “Please feed now. Any additional services will cost extra.” Sampson flopped on the bed next to Abbie.

  “I’m ready,” said Sampson, and Abbie leaned over and started drinking. His blood had a sweet taste to it like maple syrup. Donnie just watched a little sick to his stomach as Sampson started to tap on Abbie’s forearm.

  “That is enough,” Cedric said and Abbie pulled away. She closed her eyes and exhaled. Delilah moved over to the bed, sat down, and patted the mattress beside her.

  “Come on, handsome, your turn.”

  “I’m not hungry. Go ahead, Abbie,” Donnie said. Delilah pouted and then slid over to Abbie. She looked at Donnie, and after he nodded, she sank her fangs into Delilah drinking until she was full. Donnie missed out, Abbie thought as her blood was exquisite in both taste and texture. This went extremely well, Donnie thought as the donors had walked out no worse than they had entered. It had been too easy.

  “If you need us again, let Jacques know. We have all types available,” Cedric said. “Pleasure doing business.” He walked out, closing the door behind him.

  “Donnie, you should have fed,” Abbie said.

  “You needed it more, and I am not even the least bit hungry,” he said.

  “So what is our next move?”

  “I think we check out and move on. Maybe Jacques can direct us to other friendly places in the area.

  “Agreed,” she said, and they began packing their bags. They stopped when there was another knock at the door. Donnie and Abbie paused for a tense moment, and then he walked over to the door and looked th
rough the peephole again. There was no one there, but when he started to walk back, he noticed there was a note that had been slid under the door. Donnie picked it up and unfolded it. It had been hand written on a simple piece of notebook paper. It read:

  You are in great danger. If you make it out of the resort alive, meet me at Oakes Park, south of the Fairview Cemetery.

  Toby

  “We’re in trouble, Abbie!”

  “What, how?” Donnie brought the note to Abbie.

  “We have to move,” Donnie said, finishing packing the bags.

  “I’m right with you,” Abbie said, picking up her bags and heading to the door. Donnie opened the door and was surprised to find six children standing in front of him in the hall. They ranged in ages, but none appeared to be older than twelve. The tallest of the children looked up at Donnie and spoke, “We have questions that you’re going to answer.” She brazenly walked into the room, followed by three other children.

  “Who are you?” Donnie looked at the children. They were supremely confident, and he knew right away that they were like him and Abbie. They were all vampires.

  “I ask the questions here!” she snapped back. “What Bloodline are you from?” Donnie looked at Abbie and then looked back at the young girl. She seemed much more mature than her small slim frame displayed.

  “Cassandra, they’re obviously Foundlings. We should just gut them now,” A young boy next to the young girl said. Donnie was already tensing his muscles when Abbie spoke.

  “The Reich, we’re from the Reich Bloodline,” she said.

  “You I can see, but what about him?” Cassandra said, pointing at Donnie.

  “He’s my child,” Abbie said quickly.

  “No, I don’t think so,” Cassandra said as she looked Donnie over. “The eyes are wrong.” She turned to Abbie and demanded, “What are your names?”

  “Abigail and Donato Guerrero,” Abbie answered without hesitation. Donnie looked at Abbie and noticed she appeared to be rigid. Her eyes were wide in fear as Cassandra moved over to her.

  “Are you a Foundling?” Cassandra asked.